Invincible Summer

"In the midst of winter I found in me an invincible summer." -Albert Camus

Winter in Vero is unlike winter elsewhere. It is hot and humid. So many days I do not want to get up and run in the humidity. I long for cool mornings in the 40s, to wear tights and a ski hat and gloves. I ache to have my face freeze in the crisp air along the coast. I miss the smells that accompany cooler days: chimnies burning fires, pines wet with dew, the Pacific as it spits the winter swell. It is on these days I have to find my own "summer" and its name is usually "Starbucks", because that is closest to my old routine after a morning run. Actually, in many ways, it is my running friends who have carried me through this winter. Did I mention I love my running group? They are like air for me right now in the choppy waters I am navigating. My running friends have been, while completely new and different, something so familiar that I crave more of them. Runners are the same wherever we go, I think. The characters names change, but the plot is always the same: runners train for various races; runners get injured in the process; runners talk nutrition; runners qualify for Boston; runner says, "Oh yeah. I am one pumped skinny-a*% b#*@&!"

Oh, wait. That last quote could only be from Gary, the 40-something, self-absorbed, fitness obsessed tri geek who just qualified for Boston this past Sunday in Sarasota. He is thrilled and we are all happy for him, but the best was his delivery of this news to us. He is one of the many characters who continue to amuse and uplift me. These people are actually very funny, and they laugh in spite of themselves. Really, I love my running group. And, I love my Team tri group. This last weekend was so much fun at the workouts, and I think it is all really starting to come together for them. Tomorrow night we are going to a bike clinic where Craig will BBQ and I am bringing side dishes to "serve" the Team members. Today Craig said to me, "What will we do when this is all over? I am going to be so sad."

My sentiments mimic his, which is why he and I agreed to go to DC at the end of this month to take the Team in Training coaches' certification classes. In becoming certified through their program, there is greater opportunity for us to coach their programs again in the future. It should be totally educational and inspirational to be around tons of super fit people who are doing what we are currently doing. I am looking forward to the trip and time out of Vero. Anything will be cooler than here, 78 degrees today with staggering humidity. DC will be a welcome break from the heat. Unfortunately, this heat continues as my in-laws arrive tomorrow. I told them I hope they like tropical weather and to pack nothing but shorts and flip flops. Who knows? Maybe they will welcome the warm weather? While at the beach with my son the other day, I found myself envying the people who were here on vacation, like my in-laws. What a magnificent place to vacation, I thought. How fabulous this destination would be if it were vacation! The sand is amazingly soft and clean, the water is an emerald green I cannot justify with words, and the scenery is spectacular. Then I remember this is not vacation. This is still me transitioning into a new world.

On another note, training is going well. I have been on the bike more and more, which is good. I am itching to sign up for something other than a marathon now, which is promising. My crazy friend, Abbe, wants me to do a century with her in early April. I told her I will think about it after Marc's parents leave and after Owen's birthday extravaganza this weekend, plus her swim meet, plus out of town guests, plus all of the other activities and obligations we have going on. I think we may be over-commited? Maybe that is what it is...we don't necessarily have tons of friends, rather, we are so busy running from one activity to another, we come in contact with familiar faces over and over. Racing from school to tennis to swim team to gymnastics to Karate, we always bump into people who are part of these activities. I kind of like to think they are friends, but perhaps they are just frantic like we are, trying to get through the day, creating as little wake as possible, trying to keep cool. This is winter in Vero.